Nouiobledanî (New Year)

As we follow the Coligny Calendar in Bessus Nouiogalation to determine our holidays, having a calendar at all means the year must start at some point. As the start of a new year is a cause for celebration nearly universally, we are no different in that regard. So the next questions are: When? And how to observe it? To whom and why?

When: Referring to the app linked above, the new year normally starts on 1 Samonios. However, whenever the intercalary month of Quimonios appears, it is 1 Quimonios that we celebrate it. This occurs once every five years, three times in a row. On the fourth cycle, there’s no Quimonios. After that, the cycles start again. At the time of writing this article –17 May, 2020 –, the year starts on 1 Samonios. Which will be 29 May, 2020. Festivities start the evening before that.

How: New Year festivities in this case involve feasting and partying as New Year observances often do. To bring in good luck for the new year, we have a few suggested offerings: mead, honey, coins. Any or all will do.

Mead and the honey that make it carry three important properties. There is the sweetness of it, which we can associate with goodness. There is its incredibly long shelf life, which signifies longevity, the hope for many years to come. And its golden colour, signifying prosperity.

For these things, an offering of coin can do the same thing. And hey, metal doesn’t decompose easily so a longevity association could be concluded from that as well.

Other potential offerings could include antlers, bones or acorns. Which speak to the nature of regeneration.

To whom and why: The first deity that comes to mind here is Carnonos. For whom, Ceisiwr Serith in ‘Cernunnos: Looking Every Which Way‘ makes a strong case of His associations with bi-directionality and prosperity. Carnonos simply being a different spelling.

Also, there’s a thought here that He stands guard between worlds. Protecting our own from creatures of Dubnos, the Underworld. One which has come from observing Him on the Gundestrup Cauldron.

And so, if you are reading this at the right time: Nouiobledanîn dagin tê! (A good New Year to you!)

A big thanks to Canabirix Sapouaððion for mentioning the idea of tying the New Year observances to Carnonos.